RIVER FALLS, Wis. | Rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the Chiefs’ top draft pick and the centerpiece of their rebuilding effort, injured his left knee during the annual Family Fun Night practice Saturday.
Coach Herm Edwards described the injury as a sprain
“He’s probably going to be week-to-week,” Edwards said. “They won’t know until they do all of the MRIs and all of that. They’ll find out what’s going on. But I don’t think it’s serious.”
Offensive tackle Branden Albert, the Chiefs’ other first-round pick, sprained his foot during Thursday night’s joint practice against the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs don’t expect Albert to return to practice before training camp breaks in the middle of August.
Dorsey went down during a running play about midway through the practice. He got up and walked off the field without assistance.
He was examined by medical personnel and an ice bag was wrapped around the knee. Dorsey then walked gingerly — but under his own power — off the practice field and into the locker room.
Tank Tyler, a third-round draft pick last year, will replace Dorsey in the starting lineup. Herb Taylor, a sixth-round pick last year, is replacing Albert. Taylor played in one game on offense as a reserve last year.
Edwards tried to put a positive spin on the double-dose of bad luck. But his mood was decidedly somber.
“They’ll be back,” he said. “They’re not here and whatever time they miss is valuable time because they’re rookies. The good part about it is those other guys are going to have to play, get evaluated and play.
“When (Dorsey and Albert) come back, they’re going to be asked to play. They’ve mentally got to stay into it. That’s the hard part when you’re not practicing. You miss all of those (snaps) and that’s what you miss when you’re a young player. You miss those repetitions.
“That’s not going to stop us from doing what we’re trying to do. You can’t do anything about it. It happens. It happens all over the league and when it happens you can’t feel sorry for yourself or sorry for your football team. You continue to coach, and that’s what we’re going to do.”